Biosketches are key for reviewers to gauge the technical breadth of your team and its capacity to complete the project. At BBCetc we've seen summary statements, debriefings and criticisms of proposals denied funding because the team's skills were lacking or were not properly detailed.

As you prepare your proposal for the upcoming Jan. 5 NIH deadline, take heed of these common mistakes we see over and over again in our proposal reviews:

Not explaining your role on the project in the Personal Statement. Reviewers can't judge whether you're qualified for your role if they don't know what your role is.

Citing more than four publications under your Personal Statement. The limit is four.

Not including a "Contributions to Science" section, which is required for every Key Person. It should be a short paragraph not just one sentence.

Citing more than four publications or research products after each Contribution to Science. The limit is four.

Inventing your own formatting. Follow the format!

Including Completed Research that goes back further than 3 years. Per the instructions, limit this section to the past 3 years.

Not fixing your collaborators and your team's biosketches to make them all look beautiful and consistent. Take the time to do this. Looking professional is important!

... Applications for the I-Corps at NIH program are due on Monday, Dec. 18. If you need additional information about the program, visit the I-Corps at NIH webinar materials page for archived webinars and a sample application excerpt. Applications must be submitted through the NIH ASSIST system. If you have any questions, send an email to ncisbir@mail.nih.gov.

... In a new "All About Grants" podcast, "Understanding the Definition of a Clinical Trial and What That Means for You," Dr. Mike Lauer, NIH deputy director for extramural research, discusses the NIH definition of a clinical trial, addresses community questions, and speaks to how changes to clinical trials policies will impact applicants and grantees.
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NASA

NASA SBIR/STTR is revamping its proposal submission system. The new system is more modern, intuitive, and user-friendly with a dashboard to help manage your submissions. Key features include a variety of ways to contact NASA for support, quick reference for your recent activity, snapshot of your percent of application completion and more. Learn more about the update system in
upcoming webinars.

BBCetc is nationally recognized for its expertise in helping technology-based entrepreneurs win federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and use it strategically to propel growth. BBCetc capabilities include: